Extension for outrigger beam

Abstract

An outrigger beam assembly for stabilizing large construction vehicles includes two pivotally connected portions. Mounted to an outer end of a single stage outrigger beam is an extension beam with selectively removable pins securing the extension beam to the outrigger beam. When a vertically aligned pair of pins are removed, the extension beam may be manually pivoted, around a vertical hinge axis passing through the remaining pins, from a working position to a non-working or storage position. Either a locking bar or cooperating apertured ear portions on the extension beam and the outrigger beam may be used to secure the extension beam in the storage position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An outrigger beam assembly for a highway transportable vehicle having a frame, such as a construction vehicle, comprising: at least one telescopically extensible stage outrigger beam positioned beneath the frame, having a single stage and an outer end;   means for permanently mounting said outrigger beam on said frame so that said outrigger beam is telescopically extensible beyond an edge of said frame and telescopically retractable to a retracted position where said outer end is adjacent said edge, said permanently mounting means being fixed relative to said frame;   an extension beam connected to said outer end of said at least one outrigger beam and selectively pivotable with respect thereto about a vertical axis through an angle of substantially 180° between a working position where said extension beam is substantially colinear with said outrigger beam and a non-working position, said extension beam at said non-working position is substantially within a peripheral contour of said vehicle when said outrigger beam is in said retracted position; and   securing means for securing said extension beam to said at least one outrigger beam in both said working and non-working positions wherein, in said working position, two horizontally spaced apart vertical hinge lines are formed by cooperating portions of said extension beam and said outrigger beam, one of said hinge lines being located on either side of a central axis of said outrigger beam and wherein said extension beam is pivoted around one of said hinge lines to bring said extension beam into said non-working position thereby spacing apart portions of said extension beam and said outrigger beam which cooperated to form said other hinge line.   
     
     
       2. The outrigger beam assembly of claim 1 further comprising hydraulic means for driving said mounting means. 
     
     
       3. The outrigger beam assembly of claim 1 further comprising a jack cylinder and pad assembly located on an outer end of said extension beam, a pad of said assembly being selectively vertically extensible to contact a support surface. 
     
     
       4. The outrigger beam assembly of claim 1 wherein said securing means includes four selectively removable pins, each of said pins securing a respective first hinge portion located on an outer end of said outrigger beam to a corresponding second hinge portion located on an inner end of said extension beam. 
     
     
       5. The outrigger beam assembly of claim 4 wherein removal of two vertically aligned pins will disconnect two first hinge portions from two second hinge portions and establish a hinge line on an opposite side of said extension beam, said extension beam pivoted around said hinge line to move said extension beam from said working position to said non-working position. 
     
     
       6. The outrigger beam assembly of claim 5 wherein said hinge portions around which said extension beam is pivoted to said non-working position also each include a second aperture, and wherein said second apertures become aligned as said extension beam is pivoted to said non-working position and wherein a pin is secured through said aligned pair of second apertures to secure said extension beam in said non-working position. 
     
     
       7. An outrigger beam assembly for stabilizing a highway transportable construction vehicle having a frame, comprising: an outrigger beam positioned beneath the frame, having an outer end and including a single stage hydraulic actuator;   means for permanently mounting said outrigger beam for generally horizontal, telescoping movement between a horizontally retracted position where said outer end is adjacent said frame, and a horizontally extended position beyond said frame, said outrigger beam having on said outer end thereof at least two first hinge portions;   an extension beam mounted for pivotal movement around a vertical axis through an angle of substantially 180° relative to an outer end of said outrigger beam with at least two second hinge portions located on an inner end of said extension beam, each of said second hinge portions cooperating with one of said first hinge portions when said extension beam is in a working position where said extension beam is substantially colinear with said outrigger beam;   a plurality of selectively removable pins which secure said extension beam to said outrigger beam, one pin securing each of said first hinge portions to a respective one of said second hinge portions, wherein said hinge portions of said extension beam and said outrigger beam cooperate in said working position to form two horizontally spaced apart vertical hinge lines, one of said hinge lines extending through each of said cooperating hinge portions on said extension beam and outrigger beam and each said hinge line being located on a corresponding side of a vertical axis bisecting said outrigger beam and   wherein said extension beam is pivoted around one of said hinge lines to bring said extension beam into said non-working position thereby spacing apart hinge positions of said extension beam and said outrigger beam which formerly cooperated to form said other hinge line, and   wherein said extension beam at said non-working position is substantially within the peripheral contour of said vehicle when said outrigger beam is in said horizontally retracted position; and     securing means to secure said extension beam in said non-working position.   
     
     
       8. The outrigger beam assembly of claim 7 further comprising hydraulic means for driving said mounting means. 
     
     
       9. The outrigger beam assembly of claim 1 or 7 wherein two outrigger beams and two extension beams are provided, said two outrigger beams being extendable from opposing sides of the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. The outrigger beam assembly of claim 7 wherein said securing means includes cooperating hinge portions on said extension beam and said outrigger beam with a pair of apertures being provided on said cooperating hinge portions which apertures become aligned when said extension beam is rotated to said non-working position whereby a pin can be inserted through said apertures to secure said extension beam in said non-working position.